Washer.



W; P. w. s. THOMSON.

WASHER. ABPLIOATIQN FILED AUG.17 1911.- 1

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

WITNESSES W dag/W and lower edge portions 22 of the w asher being relatively thin.

Fig. 9 shows a form of washer in which the concave face forms thenut-bearing face and the reinforcement is at the opposite side, the upper and lower edge portions be ing as in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows a form generally similar to that of Fig. 9, except that the edge portions are provided with the bearing ribs Qt, which are separated from the central reinforcement 25 by the recesses 26.

Fig. 11 showsa slight modification of the form of Fig 10, and differs from the form shown in that figure in that the bearing ribs have beveled faces 27, which are adapted to fit slanting faces 28 on the member '2, instead of a straight surface as in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows a form of washer somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 7, except that instead of a single vertical bearing for the nut, as in Fig. 7, its upper and lower portions are bent outwardly, as shown at 29, giving the nut a three-fold bearing thereon. This washer has two bearing points at 30 against the member 2, these bearings points being between the bolt hole and the adjacent parallel outer edges of the washer instead of at the extreme outer edges, as in Fig; 7.

lVhile as above stated, we have shown in each case the bearing member 2 as being a splice bar or a portion thereof, it is to be understood that .this is not to be regarded as a limitation of the application of our invention, since washers of this type may be adapted to be used on any sort of bearing face on which a spring washer may be clamped by a bolt or nut.

A plate washer of equal sectional thickness throughout will bend all at one point across the diameter of the bolt hole. Our improvement, as hereinbefore described, permits the distribution of the strains equally across the hole, the greater portion of the bending being transmitted to a point outside of the hole, where there is a line of unbroken metal extending entirely across the washer and where breakage is less apt to occur. The spring action, therefore becomes more uniform, so that the washer can be made of tempered spring steel, capable of being flattened from a curved position without any danger of tearing the metal apart at any one point. By varying the thickness of the washer across the hole, the strains are uniformly distributed in such a manner that if the washer were made flat and then heated and bent. the curvature across the hole could be made quite uniform, instead of having a sharp kink through the center of the hole. Most or all of this spring action can be removed from the region of the hole by making the sectional thickness great enough across the hole; in which case, all the bending and spring of the washer takes place between the edge of the hole and the adjacent edge of the washer, leaving a flat portion across the hole. Any variation between this condition and the condition of uniform bending can be obtained by vary ing the sectional thickness of the washer across the hole. It is therefore apparent that we can construct a bowed spring washer which will not break through the hole and which will have the strains evenly distributed equally across it or diverted outside of the hole, where there is less possibility of breakage. In this manner a washer of tempered steel which is relatively short, but which will have a relatively large amountof curvature may be provided. lVe are also able at the same time to so proportion the washer in the region across the bolt hole as to locate with certainty the point or points at which the washer may bend without breaking.

lVe claim:

1. A bowed spring washer, having a bolt hole therethrough, and having also a reinforce extending from end to end across it, said reinforce being ofa width at the bolt hole substantially equal, at least, to the diameter of the bolt hole.

2. A bowed spring washer, having a bolt hole therethrough, and having also a reinforce extending entirely from end to end across it, said reinforce being of a width'at the bolt hole substantially equal, at least, to the diameter of the bolt hole, the direction of the reinforce being parallel to the axis of curvature'of the washer.

3. A bowed spring washer, having rela tively thin portions at opposite sides of the center, and a thickened central portion extending from end toend of the washer and having a bolt hole extending therethrough, the thickened portion having a width which is at least equal to the width of said hole.

4. A bowed washer. having a thickened central portion extending across it, with the bolt hole of the washer extending therethrough, the thickened portion diminishing in thickness toward opposite sides.

5. A bowed washer. having a thickened central portion extending across it, with the bolt hole of the washer extending therethrough, the thickened portion diminishing in thickness from the center thereof toward opposite sides.

6. A bowed spring washer, having its central portion thickened. a thinner portion at each side of the thickened portion, and a' thickened portion outside of each thinner portion.

7. A bowed washer, having one of its 125,

faces provided with three separated substantially parallel bearing portions.

8. A bowed washer, having one of its faces provided with three separated substantially parallel bearing portions, one of said portions extending across the center of washer, and the others being between 'the center and the edges of the washer.

-9. A bowed washer, having one of its faces provided with three s'eparatedsubstantially parallel bearing portions, one of said portions extending across the center of the washer, and the others being between the center and the edges of the washer, the saidportions being separated by recesses extending'enti'rely across'the washer,

10. A bowed-spring Washer, having a neck A portion of substantially uniform thickness extending from end tofend across it, and a thicker portion at .each side of said neck,

one of said thicker portions having the bolt holetherethrough.

Y 11. A bowed washer, having a thickened reinforce extending across its centralzone and forming a projecting bearing portion on one face of... the washer, and also having a parallel bearing portion at each side ofthe said reinforce and separated therefrom by relatively thinner portions.

12. A bowed spring washer, thickened along opposite edges and perforated through its medial portion which is thickened along a line parallel to said opposite edges, said medial portion diminishing in thickness in opposite directions to form contracted inecks lying adjacent to-and ened opposite edges. I

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

WILLIAM P.THOl\ ISON. SAMUEL Gr. THOMSON.

3'0 parallel to said thick-'- 

